Top 5 Auto Trends in 2018

This year is definitely going to be an exciting one in the auto-world! If you’re a fan of cars, interested in the new tech, or just enjoy driving in general, keep reading. There are some revolutionary shifts headed your way in 2018. Trends are always changing, but luck for you, Mac James Motors is always up-to-date on what to look out for.

Here are some of the biggest trends you’ll see this year:

AI-powered entertainment systems

At CES 2018, it was fairly obvious that car-makers are working extra hard to “smarten up” their vehicles – especially in the entertainment/media-system department. Mercedes-Benz recently revealed its new AI-powered voice assistant that’s a part of their “Mercedes-Benz User Experience” (MBUX). The technology allows drivers to simply tell their car what to do – allowing them to spend more time focusing on driving instead of trying to change climate control settings, choose music, or load up navigational maps. Hyundai also showed off its new Intelligent Personal Agent, voice-control technology that was co-developed by Silicon Valley-based SoundHound Inc., which specializes in voice-enabled AI. Expect a growing trend in connected cars this year as we get closer and closer to autonomous vehicles.

Electric cars becoming mass market

Photo Credit: Chevrolet.ca
Car makers have already started seriously amping up their efforts in the electric car category. For example, this will be the first full year that the Chevrolet Bolt EV will be available on large scale, after having already experienced clear marketplace success selling more than 20,000 units already in a few American states. The redesigned Nissan Leaf has also entered production and will join the Tesla Model 3 and the Bolt later this year. The affordability and efficiency of these cars and (others in development) will start to a monumental shift in consumer attitudes toward electric vehicles (EVs).

The rise of the ‘SUV’ style

SUVs and crossovers have been dominating the auto market for the last few years, and the trend doesn’t show any sign of stopping. In the next year, you’ll see them even become the flagship model for some lines, fully decked out in new driver-assist features, highly advanced entertainment systems, digital personal assistants, high-end interiors, and revamped engines. In fact, the trend has seeped so far into the supercar category that luxury automakers like Rolls-Royce Lamborghini, Aston Martin and others have started building super-SUVs that will offer V8 and V12 engines. The Lamborghini Urus (pictured above), revealed in December, will be one of the first of these super SUVs to hit the streets. Ferrari has claimed they won’t be far behind.

All-wheel drive as a standard option

With the growing love for SUVs, crossovers and vehicles that are basically trying to do everything, consumers have started demanding better traction systems for their cars. As a result, all-wheel drive is now increasingly being offered as a standard option by manufacturers.

Safety is #1

With the surge in driver-assisted technology like forward collision warnings, blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping and lane-centering assists, it’s clear that advanced safety systems are becoming one of the biggest items on consumer checklists. As the year goes on, more and more manufactures will be releasing vehicles that help drivers avoid or mitigate crashes in all kinds of situations.

While you’re waiting for all these new releases to hit the road, take the car-o-scope quiz below and figure out what car suits you best!